Container support and securement structure having collapsible pedestals

ABSTRACT

Supporting and securement structure adapted to use on carrier vehicles, including railway flatcars, for the transportation of varied sizes and numbers of box-type containers in which merchandise is shipped; said structure having guide tracks secured to the carrier vehicle structure and one-piece pedestal type supports with integral support portions retained within the guide tracks for movement therealong to predetermined positions of securement and swingable around said support portions between upright and collapsed positions, the support pedestals being constructed and propelled for relative stability in their upright positions and collapsible into relatively small openings in the guide tracks themselves to close said openings when not in use.

United States Patent Inventor Phillip D. Schwlebert Glencoe, lll.

Appl. No. 832,676

Filed June 12, 1969 Patented Sept. 7, 1971 Assignee Marian-Fog Lock NutCo.

Mudeleln, lil.

CONTAINER SUPPORT AND SECUREMENT STRUCTURE HAVING COLLAPSIBLE PEDFSTALS[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,391,654 7/1968 Grob et al.105/366 Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman Attorney-Davis, Lucas,Brewer & Brugman ABSTRACT: Supporting and securement structure adaptedto use on carrier vehicles, including railway flatcars, for thetransportation of varied sizes and numbers of box-type containers inwhich merchandise is shipped; said structure having guide tracks securedto the carrier vehicle structure and onepiece pedestal type supportswith integral support portions retained within the guide tracks formovement therealong to predetermined positions of securement andswingable around said support portions between upright and collapsedpositions, the support pedestals being constructed and propelled forrelative stability in their upright positions and collapsible intorelatively small openings in the guide tracks themselves to close saidopenings when not in we.

PATENTEU SEP 7 I971 SHEET 2 UF 5 CONTAINER SUPPORT AND SECUREMENTSTRUCTURE HAVING COLLAPSIBLE PEDESTALS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFactors such as the costs of loading and unloading merchandisc and thetransfer of freight between ships, trains and trucks, as well aspilferage of freight shipped in boxcars in less than carload lots havegiven rise to favor for shipments in boxtype containers which can beindividually sealed and also loaded and unloaded, as units of sizescommensurate with the quantity of goods shipped.

In addition to being well suited to the transportation of boxtypecontainers, it is also desirable that the vehicle should be usable forhauling other types of loads, such, for example, as truck trailers,without material change of the car structure or substantial interferencefrom the container supporting and securement equipment.

Both the adaptation of the vehicle for use for purposes other than thehauling of box-type containers and to facilitate loading and unloadingof the containers relative to the vehicle, as by overhead cranes, makeit desirable that the containers shall be supported above the vehicledeck during shipment. Additionally, the accommodation of box-typecontainers of varied sizes and the use of corner support pedestals forthe containers make it desirable that the pedestals may be used invarious combinations and that at least some of the pedestals shall bemovable to different positions along the vehicle. Furthermore, when notin use or prepared for use, the pedestals are collapsible toout-of-the-way positions and provide covers for openings into which theycollapse into practically flush relationships to the vehicle deck.

The pedestals, in addition to having support and locating surfaces forthe corners of containers, also have thereon latch pawls which grip andretain the containers in position on the pedestals during shipment, as,for example, to prevent dislodgment of the containers from the pedestalsand vehicle as a result of side thrust forces which may be encounteredin traveling around curves or comers at relatively high speeds.

In somewhat more specific respects, the pedestals and guide tracks of acontainer support and securement system of the type disclosed hereinshould be correlated, constructed and arranged to embody certainfeatures or principles. That is, after initial installation, thepedestals should not be readily removable from the guide tracks, so thatthey can be separated from the vehicle and lost. The openings in whichthe pedestals are stored in a collapsed position when not in use arepreferably confined to the guide tracks and should be relatively smallto provide for the safety of workers. The guide track slots throughwhich the pedestals move longitudinally of the track should berelatively narrow for reasons of the worker safety and so as not tointerfere materially with other uses of the vehicle. The pedestalsshould be readily movable between their collapsed and erect positionsand also between positions spaced longitudinally of the vehicle or guidetracks. The pedestals should be movable along, and supported from acontinuous, uninterrupted and rugged portion of the guide trackstructure. It is also desirable that the anchorage of the pedestals inthe guide track and the structure and operation of the container latchmechanism shall be such that while the containers are firmly retained onthe pedestals for shipment, their engagement and release isautomatically efiected, without separate manual operations, by the forceexerted as a result of container weight during loading and as a resultof the lifting force of unloading equipment, such as a crane.

THE PRIOR ART ln the past, other structures and structural combinationshave been devised for comparable and related purposes, and have beenpatented. Some such prior devices have incorporated parts requiringlarge amounts of material and expensive machining operations which havemade them too expensive to manufacture and install to be economicallyfeasible.

Others have required relatively large openings in the vehicle deck forstorage and even segmentation of the guide tracks for accommodation ofthe pedestals in collapsed storage positions. Some, because of bulk,storage problems and complication have not been suited to use onmultipurpose vehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of factors which include the foregoingconsiderations, it is a general object of this invention to provide asupport and securement structure for the transportation of containerizedlading on a carrier vehicle, which structure em'- bodies guide tracksmade from relatively standard roller steel sections and has unitarypedestals for supporting the lading containers above the vehicle deckand which are both movable through a relatively narrow top guide trackslot to predetermined positions of use and collapsible to out-of-thewaypositions through relatively small cutout portions in the tops of theguide tracks and into generally flush relationship with the vehicle deckwhen not in use.

As another object, this invention has within its purview the provisionof a support and securement structure of the type discussed and which,together with a guide track having upper and lower flange portionsconnected by a web, has container supporting pedestals movable to andadapted to" be held in predetermined positions along the guide track andwhich each include an integral base element mounted between the uppei'and lower flanges of the guide track for support by and from the lowertack flanges, for movement longitudinally of the track, and for swingingmovement between upright and collapsed positions relative to the track.

This invention further comprehends the provision of a unitary pedestalhaving an integral base element supported and retained within a guidetrack for movement therealong and relative to which the pedestal isswingable from an upright load supporting position to a collapsedposition practically flush with the track and in which portions thereofextend through the track between opposite sides thereof.

It is another object of the invention to provide, in combination with aguide track composed of bulb angle sidepieces secured in opposedrelationship with upper and lower flanges of the sidepieces extendingtoward one another and spaced to define upper and lower slots ofdifferent widths therebetween, a lading container comer support pedestalhaving a backplate element of a width greater than that of the upperslot and nai rower than the guide track and extending laterally of thetrack with means at the lower end thereof for engagement in notches inthe upper flanges for holding the pedestal in a fixed position relativeto the track, container support i'neans at the upper portion of thebackplate element and of a' width less than that of the lower slot, anintegral supporting base movably mounted between the sidepieces andbetween the flanges thereof and supported at its opposite sides from thelower flanges, an integral brace structure extending from the backplateelement below the containef 'siipport means and above the base, saidbrace structure being narrower than the upper slot and movable thereinand also narrower than the lower slot and movable therethrough, saidpedestal being tiltable in one direction longitudinally of the guidetrack and having means thereon for preventing tilting in the oppositedirection and additional means for releasably retaining the pedestal inan upright position on the track.

Another object of this invention is to provide a guide track for acontainer corner support pedestal which hasopposite marginal portionswhich serve also as supports for vehicle deck plates in spacedrelationship on opposite sides thereof and which has an opening thereininto which the pedestal is collapsible and wherein the container supportpedestalsare narrower than the space between the deck plates; so thatthe pedestal, when collapsed, rests against the guide track between thedeck plates in generally flush relationship to the latter.

This invention also has within its purview the provision of a unitarycontainer corner support pedestal for the use on transport vehicleswhich has at the lower end thereof a base ele ment from which it issupported through opposed and oppositely projecting end segments of asectional shape and size such that they can roll on a supporting surfacewithin a limited space, a backplate element extending upwardly above thebase element and having container corner seat and retaining partsthereon and carried thereby above the base element, a brace structureconnecting the base and backplate elements and extending beneath thecontainer corner seat, and means on the backplate element and also onthe brace structure for stabilizing the pedestal in an upright positionrelative to a supporting structure.

It is also within the comprehension of this invention to provide acontainer corner support pedestal of the type to which reference hasbeen made and which has thereon a container securernent latch mechanismoperable by placement of the container on the pedestal for effectingretaining engagement of the latch with the container, and operable bylifting force applied to the container, as by a crane, for effectingrelease of the latch from retaining engagement with the container duringthe unloading of the container.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description and references to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein the corresponding reference characters refer to likeparts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multipurpose vehicle, in the form of arailway flatcar, which embodies a preferred form of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an end sectional view, drawn to a larger scale than FIG. 1,wherein the section is taken substantially as indicated I by line 22 andaccompanying arrows in FIG. 1 and wherein the position of containerizedfreight on the vehicle is shown in dashed lines;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a vehicle of the type illustrated in FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view depicting segments of thestructure illustrated in FIG. 3, drawn to a larger scale than FIG. 1;

F IG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of a different portion of thestructure illustrated in FIG. 3 and drawn to a scale comparable to thatused in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary end sectional view depicting the mounting of acontainer supporting pedestal of the type herein disclosed and whereinthe pedestal is in an upright position and disposed for the hauling ofcontainerized lading;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side sectional view taken from a portion at theright-hand side of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is another fragmentary side sectional view taken from the sideopposite that shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary end sectional view taken from the end of thepedestal opposite that depicted in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side sectional view from the side shown in FIG.7 and wherein the pedestal is collapsed to an out-of-the-way positionrelative to its supporting guideway;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of the structure shown in FIG.10;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary side sectional view similar to FIG. 7, butshowing the pedestal in a position in which it is adapted to be movedalong the guideway;

FIG. 13 is a front fragmentary sectional view of the pedestal and itsguideway with a freight container fragmentarily illustrated as beinglowered toward a position for carriage on the pedestal;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13, wherein the container is loweredto a position in which it has cammed a preferred type of latch mechanismfrom its normal position;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIGS. 13 and 14, but wherein the containerhas been lowered to its seated position on the pedestal and is engagedfor retention by the latch; and

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Having reference to thedrawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the disclosed containersupport and securernent structure is shown in an adaptation to use on arailway flatcar 20. As is practical for general service in such anadaptation, the flatcar 20 which is illustrated as one which is suitedto a plurality of purposes, including the hauling of vehicle trailers,as well as for hauling lading which is carried in containers ofrelatively standardized sizes which are loaded and unloaded by cranes orthe like, and do not have wheels thereon, as do the vehicle trailers.For hauling trailer vehicles, the car is equipped with stanchions 22 and23 which, when erect, as the stanchion 22 is shown, support the frontend of the trailer vehicle. When not in use, the stanchions fold to anout-of-theway position in generally flush relationship to the car deck24, as shown at 23. Generally, guide rails, such as 25, are provided inspaced relationship along the midregion of the car deck 24 as an aid forloading and unloading the trailer vehicles and to insure their properpositioning laterally of the car. At the ends of such a car, plates 26and 27 are provided, which plates fold down to bridge the space betweencoupled cars, so that trailer vehicles can be moved from car to car forloading and unloading purposes.

The underframe of the disclosed car is of a relatively standard formutilized in a car construction and includes a center sill 28 and sidesills 29 and 30 which extend longitudinally of the car. At spacedpositions along the car, crossmembers 32 and 33 are provided, and arebraced relative to the center sill 28 by braces 34 and 35. Thesecrossmembers extend between the side sills 29 and 30, and carrylongitudinal stringers 36 and 37 which are spaced on opposite sides ofthe center sill 28 and which are also spaced inwardly from the sidesills 29 and 30 and serve as supports for the deck 24 which, in thepresent instance, comprises a metal plate 38 covering the lateralmidregion of the underframe throughout the length of the car.

For the adaptation of the car to the hauling of containerized freight,in accordance with this invention, guideways 39 and 40 are provided atopposite sides of the car deck for accommodation and support ofpedestals, such as 42 and 43, which pedestals are adapted to the supportof lading containers above the car deck in positions such that thecontainers clear the guide rails 25 and folded stanchions such as 23,and in which supported positions, the containers can be readily graspedat their opposite sides for loading and unloading relative to the car.

In the form illustrated, each of the sections of the guideways or tracks39 and 40 is made up of bulb angles 44 and 45 which are secured, as bywelding, to the tops of the crossmembers 32 and 33 to extendlongitudinally of the car adjacent and spaced inwardly of the side sills29 and 30; the bulbs angles being oppositely disposed with lower flanges46 and 47 and upper flanges 48 and 49 extending toward one another andspacedapart to respectively define lower slots 50 and upper slots 52.The flanges 46 and 48 are integrally adjoined by a web 53 and theflanges 47 and 49 are integrally adjoined by a web 54. As shown, theheight of the bulb angles 44 and 45 is comparable to that of thelongitudinal stringers 36 and 37, so that the margins of the bulb anglesserve as supports for the deck 24. As shown in FIG. 2, deck plate strips55 and 56 extend longitudinally of opposite sides of the car and bridgethe space between the side sills 29 and 30 and the outer margins of thetop of the bulb angles 44 and 45.

Having reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the guideways 39 and 40 whichextend along opposite sides of the car deck are divided into endsegments 39a, 39b, 40a and 40b which are located near opposite ends ofthe car deck and relatively long intermediate segments 39c and 40c whichextend along portions of the longitudinal midregion of opposite sides ofthe car deck. Each of the end segments 39a 39b, 40a and 40b is adaptedto the accommodation of a single pedestal at a fixed erect position or acollapsed position, while the long intermediate segments of theguideways 39c and 400 each accommodate a plurality of pedestals ineither erect positions for supporting containers or in collapsedpositions, and which pedestals are movable along the guideway segmentsfor releasable retention in erect container supporting positions, aswell as being collapsible at selected positions along the guidewaysegments. In the intermediate guideway segments, the pedestals aremounted to face in different directions, while the pedestals in the endsegments 39a, 39b, 40a and 40b face inwardly of the car, in eachinstance, whereby the pedestals in the intermediate segments areselectable for use with one another or with the pedestals in the endsegments for the accommodation of different numbers of containers ofdifferent sizes at different times.

Although reversed at the opposite ends of the car, the end segments 39a,39b, 40a and 40b of the guideways are constructed substantially asillustrated at the right-hand side of FIG. 4 in respect to the segment40b. As depicted, the bulb angles are supported from the underframe, asillustrated and described with regard to FIG. 2, and the deck 24 extendsalong opposite margins of the upper flanges 48 and 49, except at the endof the car, where the deck plate covers an unused portion of the bulbangles. The top flanges 48 and 49 of the bulb angles have opposednotches 57 and 58 therein, which notches serve to releasably retain apedestal in its upright position as will be described. At a positionspaced from the edges 57 and 58 the upper flanges 48 and 49 are cut awaytoward the webs 53 and 54 to provide an opening 59, into which apedestal may be collapsed. At the end of the bulb angles oppositethe'notches 57 and 58 and adjacent the opening 59, the upper flanges 48and 49 and the webs 53 and 54 are cut away to the depth of the upperflanges 48 and 49 to provide an opening 60for the installation of apedestal in the guideway segment, after which the opening 60 is coveredby cover plate 62 which is welded to the respective bulb angle webs andforms a surface substantially flush with the deck to prevent n removalof a pedestal from the guideway segment after it has been installed.From the foregoing, it may be understood that each of the end guidewayssegments 39a, 39b, 40a and 40b comprises a relatively short tracksegment which accom modates a single pedestal and provides for thesupport of that pedestal in a relatively fixed erect position, as wellas for the collapse of the pedestal into and through the track segmentitself to a position in which it has generally flush relationship to thecar deck.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the intermediate guideway segments 39c and40c are longer than the end segments and accommodate a plurality ofpedestals, with provision for the releasable retention of thosepedestals in a plurality of fixed positions spaced longitudinally of theguideways, as well as providing for the collapse of the pedestals atpositions spaced longitudinally of the intermediate guideways. Thenotches 63 and 64 are provided in opposed relationship at regularlyspaced positions along the upper flanges 48 and 49 of the intermediateguideway segments. At positions spaced from one another and intermediatethe notches 63 and 64 of the intermediate guideway sections, portions ofthe upper flanges 48 and 49 are cut away to provide openings 65 betweenlateral limits of the guideways into which pedestals may be collapsed.The spacing of the opening 65 and the number of such openings dependsupon the number of pedestals which are provided on a car to accommodatevarious sizes of containers for transportation thereby, while thespacing of the notches is also suited to the number of sizes of thecontainers which are to be accommodated on the car. At the opposite endsof the intermediate guideway sections, the upper flanges 48 and 49 arecompletely cut away, and the webs 53 and 54 are cut to the depth of theupper flanges to provide openings 67 for the installation of pedestals.After the pedestals are installed, cover plates 66 are secured to thebulb angles of the guideways to cover the openings 67, therebypreventing removal and loss of the pedestals in service. In oppositelongitudinal halves of the guideway segments 39c and 400 pedestals aredisposed to face in opposite directions, with their number anddispositions selected to provide for the support and transportation ofdifferent numbers and different sizes of containers. For example, in thestructure disclosed, provision is made for the support andtransportation of two containers which take up practically the entirelength of the car deck, or three containers supported in closely spacedrelationship, or four shorter containers which are in spacedrelationship longitudinally of the car deck. In each instance, thepedestals in the end guideway segments 39a, 39b, 40a and 40b areutilized with selected ones of the pedestals in the intermediateguideway segments 39c and 40c c. Also, when three or four containers arecarried on the car, the intermediate guideway segments and the pedestalsthereof support one or more containers, in addition to the ends of thecontainers which are additionally supported from the end guidewaysegments.

Having reference to FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9, the pedestals preferred for usein the disclosed structure are unitary with the parts thereofconstructed andarranged for support from a continuous and rugged portionof the guideway segments, and in addition to being movablelongitudinally of the guideways through relatively narrow slots toselectable positions of support in erect positions, are also collapsibleinto relatively small openings in the guideway structure, so as to be ingenerally flush relationship to the car deck and to cover the openinginto which they are collapsed. Although the pedestals for use onopposite sides of the car have parts which are oppositely disposed toprovide corner seats for containers which open inwardly of the car deck,the pedestal structures are generally alike so that a detaileddescription of one will suffice for those utilized on both sides of thecar. Actually, in most respects, the pedestal structures are symmetricalon opposite sides of a central plane extending longitudinally of thecar, but in each instance, the selection of the position of the sidewallof the container seat determines the side of the car upon which thepedestal is to be mounted to have the comer seat open inwardly of thecar deck.

Each pedestal has a backplate element 68 which is upright in the erectposition of the pedestal, and it serves to cover one of the openings 59or 65 in the guideway segment when the pedestal is collapsed relative tothe guideway. The backplate element 68, in the structure disclosed, isnarrower than the space between the deck plate 38 and the deck platestrip 55 secured to opposite sides of the .upper guideway flanges 48 and49, so that in the collapsed position of the pedestal, the backplateelement rests against the upper flanges 48 and 49 of the guidewaybetween the deck plate 38 and deck plate strip 55. Also, the backplateelement 68 is wider than the outward extent of the opposed notches 57,58, 63 and 64, so that when collapsed, the pedestal has substantialsupport from the upper guideway flanges. At its lower end, the backplateelement has thereon an integral projecting tongue 69 which is narrowerthan the backplate element and of a width to extend downwardly throughthe opposed notches in the guideway when the pedestal is in an erectposition, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Integral with the tongue 69 is aflange 70 spaced from the end of the backplate element and extendingrearwardly therefrom for engagement with the lower surfaces of the upperflanges 48 and 49 to stabilize the pedestal in its erect position. Thetongue 69 and its integral flange 70 are limited in size to pass throughthe notches in the guideway flanges, after which, engagement of theflange 70 with the lower surfaces of the upper guideway flanges iseffected by limited rearward movement of the pedestal relative to theguideway.

A container seat 72 is, in the form disclosed, integral with the forwardsurface of the midregion of the backplate element 68 and extendsforwardly therefrom so that when the pedestal is in its upright positionof use, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the seat is disposed in a generallyhorizontal plane. At one side of the container seat 72, a side retainingwall 73 extends upwardly from the container seat to a levelsubstantially even with the top of the backplate element, and issecured, as by welding, to both the container seat and the backplateelement. The side of the container seat on which the side retaining wall13 is mounted determines the side of the car on which the pedestal isusable or the direction of forward disposition of the pedestal relativeto the car for use. Extending forwardly from the lower lateral midregionof the backplate element and across the lower surface of the containerseat 72 is an integral brace structure 74, which brace structure is of awidth or thickness such that it extends through the upper slot 52 of theguideway and is readily movable therein.

A crossmember 75 is integral with the forward end of the lower surfacesof the brace structure 74 and extends laterally in opposite directionsfrom the brace structure to engage the lower surfaces of the upperflanges 48 and 49 of the guideway, thereby to prevent rearward tiltingmovement of the pedestal from its erect position.

Below the brace structure 74, at a position forward of the backplateelement 68 and spaced rearwardly from the crossmember 75 and integralwith the brace structure in a base 76 which extends laterally of thepedestal with oppositely projecting and opposed end portions 77 and 78in supporting and sliding engagement with the upper surfaces of thelower flanges 46 and 47 of the bulb angles. Being thus disposed, thebase 76 extends movably between the webs 53 and 54 of the bulb angleswith the end portions thereof disposed between the upper and lowerflanges of the bulb angles. In addition, the base has a sectionallyenlarged midregion 79 providing shoulders 80 and 82 adjacent theprojecting end portions 77 and 78 respectively which shoulders normallyextend between the inner edges of the lower flanges 46 and 47 toposition the base and pedestal laterally of the guideways. Also, in thedisclosed structure, the end portions 77 and 78 of the base have frontsurfaces 83 and 84 and bottom surfaces 85 and 86 which respectivelytaper rearwardly and upwardly toward their outer ends for surfaceengagement with the sloping inner surfaces of the lower flanges 46 and47. The base has a height such that when the opposite end portions 77and 78 thereof are engaged with the lower flanges 46 and 47, the topsurface of the base closely approaches the lower surfaces of the upperflanges 48 and 49 to limit lateral rocking movement of the pedestal inthe guideway; there being some space provided between the top of thebase and the lower surfaces of the upper flanges 48 and 49 to providefor forward and rearward tilting movement of the pedestal relative tothe guideway to and from the erect position and positions shown in FIGS.and 12. Additionally, the front and bottom surfaces of the end portions77 and 78 of the base are adjoined by rounded surfaces 87 and 88 whichpermit rolling movements of the pedestal relative to the guidewaybetween the erect and collapsed positions shown in FIGS. 7 and 10respectively. In the disclosed structure, an integral brace 89 extendsupwardly and rearwardly from the lateral midregion of the base to therear end of the brace structure 74.

Although gravitational forces tend to hold the corners of ladingcontainers in place on the container seats of properly located pedestalsin their erect positions, safety factors make it desirable to providelatch elements on the pedestals which engage base elements, such as 90,(FIGS. 13, I4 and at the bottom of a container to secure the containersin place against dislodgement by forces such as those encountered ingoing around corners at high speed or when cars are coupled. In thedisclosed structure, a spring-urged latch mechanism 92 is utilized,which latch mechanism is automatically actuated to effect engagementwith the container base element 90 when a container is lowered onto itssupporting pedestal, and which is subject to automatic operation forremoval of a container from the pedestals by a crane or the like,although its retaining engagement is otherwise normally sufficient.

As herein shown, the brace structure 74 has outwardly projecting bosses93 and 94 on opposite sides thereof and immediately below the containerseat 72. Counter bores 95 and 96 are provided in opposite sides of thebosses 93 and 94, which counter bores serve as seats for resilientelements, such as a compression spring. Since only one latch mechanismis required on each pedestal and is disposed on the side of the pedestalon which the side retaining wall 73 is mounted, only one of the counterbores is utilized on each pedestal, although the other parts of thepedestals are suited for having the side retaining wall and the latchmechanism mounted at either side thereof.

The side retaining wall has an opening 98 therein at a position spacedforwardly of the backplate element 68. A latch element 99 is hingedlymounted for swinging movement between lugs 100 on the bottom of thecontainer seat by a cross pin 102. Above the cross pin 102, the latchelement has an arm 103 on which there is a projecting latch portion 104which is movable freely through the opening 98 in the side retainingwall 73 between a normal latching position, depicted in FIGS. 13 and 15,and a displaced or retracted position, shown in FIG. 14. The latchelement 99 also has a lever portion 105 extending downwardly from thecross pin 102 and which has a boss 106 thereon which serves as a locatorfor the other end of the compression spring 97, whereby the latchelement is biased toward its engaged or retaining position, shown inFIGS. 13 and 15.

The latch portion 104 normally projects through the side retaining wall73 at a position spaced above the container seat 72. For effectingautomatic operation of the latch, an upper cam surface 107 is providedon the latch portion 104, which cam surface is angularly disposed to beengaged by the base element of a container when it is lowered toward aseating position on a pedestal, as shown in FIG. 13, whereupon theweight of the container acting against the cam surface 107 biases thelatch element 104 outwardly from above the container seat, as shown inFIG. 14, to permit the container to be lowered into position on thecontainer seat. When the base element 90 of the container is seatedagainst the container seat 72, the latch element is biased by thecompressed spring 99 to the position shown in FIG. 15, in which theprojecting portion 104 of the latch element is engaged in an opening 108in the seat of the base element. When thus engaged, the latch elementrestrains movements of the container against forces normally encounteredin use.

When the container is lifted by a crane, or the like, to effect theremoval thereof from the pedestals on which it is seated, the lowersurface of the opening 108 in the base element 90 of the containerengages a lower earn surface 109 on the latch element which as a steepercam angle than the cam surface 107, so that it has greater retainingforce for resisting dislodgment of the retaining latch. However, it iseffective for producing disengagement of the latch element from theopening 108 when sufficient lifting force is exerted for unloading thecontainer.

From the details of the structure which have been described, it may beunderstood that the unitary pedestals herein disclosed are readilymovable along the rugged and continuous lower flange surfaces of aguideway through a top guideway slot which is relatively narrow andwhich does not interfere with the use of the deck surface of the car forother purposes. When folded to an out-ofthe-way position, as shown inFIGS. 10, 11 and 16, the retracted parts of the pedestal extend throughopenings in the guideway which are only of sufficient length to receivethe container seat 72, the

laterally projecting bosses 93 and 94 on the bottom of the containerseat, the side retaining wall 73 and the latch mechanism 92. Thecrossmember 75 on the brace structure 74 has a lateral length, such thatit passes between the lower flanges 46 and 47 of the bulb angles,whereby the openings in the guideways are relatively small when thepedestals are in their erect positions, and are covered by the backplateelement 68 when the pedestals are retracted. The pedestal base 76extends into the bulb angles of the guideway to restrain lateralmovements of the pedestal, and yet the longitudinal dimensions of thebase permit rolling movement of the pedestal relative to the base in theguideway for movement of the pedestal to a position such as that shownin FIG. 12 in which it is slidable along the guideways, or to thecollapsed position shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 16. The position of thebase longitudinally of the pedestal and the retaining flanges 70 whichengages the lower surfaces of the upper flanges 48 and 49 of theguideways provides stability of the pedestals in an erect position.Furthermore, the crossmember 75 insures against rearward tiltingmovement of the pedestals relative to the guideways.

Except for the side retaining wall 73 and the latch mechanism 92 whichis utilized therewith, the parts of the unitary pedestal are laterallysymmetrical with respect to a longitudinal central-plane and are subjectto integral manufacture by conventional methods and require a minimum ofmachining operations. Then, the side retaining walls and latchmechanisms can be applied to either side of the container seat to adaptthe pedestal structure to use on either side of a vehicle, or tomounting to face either end of the car for utilization in carryingdifferent numbers of containers in different positions on the car.

1 claim:

1. A container support and securement structure for the transportationof lading containers in a position spaced above the deck of a vehicleand comprising, in combination, a guide track composed of twochannel-type elements secured to the vehicle in spaced an opposedrelationship with upper and lower flanges extending toward one anotherfrom channel webs, said channel-type elements serving as support andsecurement elements for plates which comprise said deck and having saidplates secured thereto in spaced relationship along opposite margins ofthe upper surfaces of said upper flanges so as to leave a strip of upperguide track surface of predetermined width exposed therebetween, acontainer comer support pedestal mounted on and supported by said guidetrack for movement between an upright container supporting position anda collapsed position, in which latter position a portion of the pedestalis disposed between and below said channeltype elements and a secondportion thereof is supported on and by said strip of the upper guidetrack surface in generally flush relationship with the vehicle deck,said pedestal including means at the lower end thereof extendinglaterally of said guide track between the webs and between the flangesof the channel-type elements and having opposite end segments supportedfrom and by said lower flanges for supporting said pedestal and the loadcarried thereby, said end segments being of sizes and shapes to turn insaid channel type elements when the pedestal is moved between saidupright and collapsed positions, said pedestal also having a containercorner seat on and spaced above said means, and said upper flangeshaving cutaway segments therein providing an opening through which saidcontainer corner seat passes when the pedestal is moved to saidcollapsed position.

2. A container support securement structure as defined in claim 1, andwherein said second portion of the pedestal comprises a backplate fromwhich said container corner support seat projects forwardly in theupright position of the pedestal relative to the guide track, and saidmeans is located below and forwardly of said backplate.

3. A container support securement structure as defined in claim 2, andwherein said backplate, said means and a portion of said containercorner support seat are adjoined by brace structure which extendsforwardly from the backplate between said means and portion of thecontainer comer support seat and is narrower than the space between saidupper flanges of the guide track.

4. A container support and securement structure as defined in claim 3,and wherein said brace structure has on its forward end a cross elementlonger than the space between said upper flanges of the guide track anddisposed below said upper flanges for preventing the pedestal fromtilting rearwardly from its upright position relative to the guidetrack.

5. A container support and securement structure as defined in claim 4,and wherein said lower flanges of the guide track are spaced-apart adistance greater than the length of said cross element so that the crosselement passes therebetween when the pedestal is moved to the collapsedposition.

6. A container support and securement structure as defined in claim 2,and wherein said upper flanges of the guide track have opposed notchestherein, and said backplate has a tongue at the lower end thereofengageable in said opposed notches in the upper flanges for releasablyretaining the pedestal at a fixed upright position relative to the guidetrack.

7. A container support and securement structure as defined in claim 6,and wherein said tongue has a rearwardly projecting flange thereon atits lower end and of a size to pass through said opposed notches in theupper flanges for engagement with the under surfaces of said upperflanges to releasably restrain the pedestal against forward tiltingmovement from the upright position relative to said guide track.

8. A container support and securement structure as defined in claim 1,and wherein said opposite end segments of the means have bottom surfacesengaging and conforming for surface contact with the upper surfaces ofsaid lower flanges of the guide track when the pedestal is in itsupright position and rounded lower front surfaces adjoining said bottomsurfaces.

9. In a container support and securement structure for thetransportation of lading containers in a position spaced above the deckof a vehicle, a container corner support pedestal adapted to use withsupporting structure which is secured to the vehicle to extend along thedeck in generally flush relationship thereto and having pairs of upperand lower supporting flange elements in opposed relationship andextending toward one another at vertically spaced levels and which areseparated by intervening slots of different predetermined widths, saidslot between the upper flange elements being narrower than that betweenthe lower flange elements, said container corner support pedestal beingmounted for movements on and relative to said supporting structure andcomprising a unitary structure having a base with opposite end segmentswhich project away from one another and are of sizes and shapes toextend between said upper and lower flange elements for load supportingengagement with said lower flange elements and for turning movementrelative to the lower flange elements while in engagement therewith,container supporting and retaining structure on and fixedly secured tothe base and swingably movable between an upright position in which itextends above the supporting structure and deck and a collapsed positionextending along the supporting structure as the base turns relative tothe supporting structure, said container supporting and retainingstructure including a container sea spaced from the base a distance toassume a level above said deck in the upright position of the pedestaland having side and end retaining walls extending upwardly from the seatin angular relationship to one another, brace structure extending acrossthe midregions of the base between the base and container seat and of awidth for movement through the intervening slot between said upperflange elements, means at the lower end of said end retaining wall forreleasable engagement with said upper flange elements to releasablyretain the pedestal in an upright position relative to the supportingstructure, and means on said brace structure at a position spaced fromthe retaining wall for engagement with said upper flange elements toprevent swinging movement of the pedestal in one direction from saidupright position.

10. In a container support and securement structure as defined in claim9, the combination being further characterized by said end segments ofthe base having generally flat bottom surfaces for engagement with thelower pair of flange elements and curved surfaces adjoining said flatbottom surfaces at the extremities thereof toward which the base turnsas the pedestal moves from the upright to the collapsed position.

1]. In a container support and securement structure as defined in claim9, the combination being further characterized by an opening in saidside retaining wall adjacent the container seat, a latch elementhingedly mounted on said pedestal and having a latch portion movablethrough said l l opening to and from a position spaced from said seatfor retaining engagement with a seated container, said latch elementalso having a lever portion extending along and in spaced relationshipto said brace structure, means on the brace structure providing a springretaining seat, and a latch biasing compression spring mounted betweensaid seat and said lever portion of the latch element to bias the latchportion thereof to the container retaining position.

12. in a container support and securement structure for thetransportation of lading containers in a position spaced above the deckof a vehicle, a container corner support pedestal comprising, incombination, a generally planar back support plate element. a containerseat secured to and extending forwardly in a horizontal disposition fromthe vertical midregion of the back support plate element, a containerside retaining wall extending upwardly from one side of the containerseat and forwardly from the back support plate element and secured toboth the container seat and back support plate element, brace structureextending forwardly from the lateral midregion of the backplate elementacross the lateral midregion of a lower surface of the container seatand secured to both the back support plate element and the containerseat, a base longer laterally than longitudinally of the pedestal andextending laterally of only the longitudinal midregion of the bottom ofthe brace structure at a position spaced forwardly of the backplateelement, said base being secured to the brace structure and extendingoutwardly therefrom in symmetrical relationship on opposite sides of thebrace structure, sad base also having opposite end surfaces spacedrearwardly from the end of the brace structure which is remote from theback support plate, which end surfaces face forwardly and downwardly inangular relationship to one another and are adjoined by a rounded cornersurface, a downwardly extending flanged tongue at the lower end of saidback support plate element, and a support engaging crossmember securedto and projecting laterally from opposite sides of the bottom of theforward end of the brace structure at a position spaced forwardly of thebase and having a top surface which is above the end surfaces of thebase which face downwardly.

13. In a container support and securement structure as defined in claim12, the combination being further characterized by said forwardly anddownwardly facing end surfaces at opposite ends of the base beingrespectively tapered rearwardly and upwardly toward their outer ends.

14. In a container support and securement structure as defined in claim12, said flanged tongue being narrower laterally of the pedestal thansaid support engaging crossmember, and both said flanged tongue and saidsupport engaging crossmember being narrower than said base in adirection lateral to the pedestal.

15. In a container support and securement structure as defined in claim12, said container side retaining wall having an opening therein, acontainer retaining latch element hingedly secured for swinging movementrelative to the exterior of the container seat and having a projectingportion at one end movable through said opening between containerretaining and released positions, said latch element having a leverportion extending along one side of said brace structure in spacedrelationship thereto, said brace structure having a spring seat thereonin alignment with said lever portion, and a compression spring engagedbetween said spring seat and said lever portion for urging latch elementtoward the container retaining position.

mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3,603,267 Dated September 7 1971 Inventr(s6 PHILLIP D. SCHWIEBERT It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

FIN THE ABSTRACT:

Title page, line 10, "propelled" should be proportion-;

IN THE SPECIFICATION:

Col. 2, line 30, "tack" should be track;

Col. 3, line 2, delete "the";

Col. 3, line 43, "1" should be -3;

Col. 3, lines 51 and 52, "portion" should be -position; Col. 4, line 2,change "ad" to and-;

Col. 4, line 69, "top should be tops--;

Col. 5, line 40, delete "n" after "prevent";

Col. 5, line 43, guideways" should be -guideway-; Col. 6, line 15,"40cc" should be 40c;

Col. 8, line 48, "as" should be -has;

Col. 9, line 5, "flanges" should be -flange;

IN THE CLAIMS:

Claim 1, col. 9, line 26, "an" should be and;

Claim 2, col. 9, line 55, after "support" insert and-; Claim 3, col. 9,line 61, after "support" insert --and-; Claim 9, col. 10, line 49, "sea"should be seat--; Claim 13, col. 11, line 28, "sad" should be said-.

Signed and sealed this L th day of April 1 972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MJ LETCHERJR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. A container support and securement structure for the transportationof lading containers in a position spaced above the deck of a vehicleand comprising, in combination, a guide track composed of twochannel-type elements secured to the vehicle in spaced an opposedrelationship with upper and lower flanges extending toward one anotherfrom channel webs, said channel-type elements serving as support andsecurement elements for plates which comprise said deck and having saidplates secured thereto in spaced relationship along opposite margins ofthe upper surfaces of said upper flanges so as to leave a strip of upperguide track surface of predetermined width exposed therebetween, acontainer corner support pedestal mounted on and supported by said guidetrack for movement between an upright container supporting position anda collapsed position, in which latter position a portion of the pedestalis disposed between and below said channel-type elements and a secondportion thereof is supported on and by said strip of the upper guidetrack surface in generally flush relationship with the vehicle deck,said pedestal including means at the lower end thereof extendinglaterally of said guide track between the webs and between the flangesof the channel-type elements and having opposite end segments supportedfrom and by said lower flanges for supporting said pedestal and the loadcarried thereby, said end segments being of sizes and shapes to turn insaid channel type elements when the pedestal is moved between saidupright and collapsed positions, said pedestal also having a containercorner seat on and spaced above said means, and said upper flangeshaving cutaway segments therein providing an opening through which saidcontainer corner seat passes when the pedestal is moved to saidcollapsed position.
 2. A container support securement structure asdefined in claim 1, and wherein said second portion of the pedestalcomprises a backplate from which said container corner support seatprojects forwardly in the upright position of the pedestal relative tothe guide track, and said means is located below and forwardly of saidbackplate.
 3. A container support securement structure as defined inclaim 2, and wherein said backplate, said means and a portion of saidcontainer corner support seat are adjoined by brace structure whichextends forwardly from the backplate between said means and portion ofthe container corner support seat and is narrower than the space betweensaid upper flanges of the guide track.
 4. A container support andsecurement structure as defined in claim 3, and wherein said bracestructure has on its forward end a cross element longer than the spacebetween said upper flanges of the guide track and disposed below saidupper flanges for preventing the pedestal from tilting rearwardly fromits upright position relative to the guide track.
 5. A container supportand securement structure as defined in claim 4, and wherein said lowerflanges of the guide track are spaced-apart a distance greater than thelength of said cross element so that the cross element passestherebetween when the pedestal is moved to the collapsed position.
 6. Acontainer support and securement structure as defined in claim 2, andwherein said upper flanges of the guide track have opposed notchestherein, and said backplate has a tongue at the lower end thereofengageable in said opposed notches in the upper flanges for releasablyretaining the pedestal at a fixed upright position relative to the guidetrack.
 7. A container support and securement structure as defined inclaim 6, and wherein said tongue has a rearwardly projecting flangethereon at its lower end and of a size to pass through said opposednotches in the upper flanges for engagement with the under surfaces ofsaid upper flanges to releasably restrain the pedestal against forwardtilting movement from the upright position relative to said guide track.8. A container support and securement structure as defined in claim 1,and wherein said opposite end segments of the means have bottom surfacesengaging and conforming for surface contact with the upper surfaces ofsaid lower flanges of the guide track when the pedestal is in itsupright position and rounded lower front surfaces adjoining said bottomsurfaces.
 9. In a container support and securement structure for thetransportation of lading containers in a position spaced above the deckof a vehicle, a container corner support pedestal adapted to use withsupporting structure which is secured to the vehicle to extend along thedeck in generally flush relationship thereto and having pairs of upperand lower supporting flange elements in opposed relationship andextending toward one another at vertically spaced levels and which areseparated by intervening slots of different predetermined widths, saidslot between the upper flange elements being narrower than that betweenthe lower flange elements, said container corner support pedestal beingmounted for movements on and relative to said supporting structure andcomprising a unitary structure having a base with opposite end segmentswhich project away from one another and are of sizes and shapes toextend between said upper and lower flange elements for load supportingengagement with said lower flange elements and for turning movementrelative to the lower flange elements while in engagement therewith,container supporting and retaining structure on and fixedly secured tothe base and swingably movable between an upright position in which itextends above the supporting structure and deck and a collapsed positionextending along the supporting structure as the base turns relative tothe supporting structure, said container supporting and retainingstructure including a container sea spaced from the base a distance toassume a level above said deck in the upright position of the pedestaland having side and end retaining walls extending upwardly from the seatin angular relationship to one another, brace structure extending acrossthe midregions of the base between the base and container seat and of awidth for movement through the intervening slot between said upperflange elements, means at the lower end of said end retaining wall forreleasable engagement with said upper flange elements to releasablyretain the pedestal in an upright position relative to the supportingstructure, and means on said brace structure at a position spaced fromthe retaining wall for engagement with said upper flange elements toprevent swinging movement of the pedestal in one direction from saidupright position.
 10. In a container support and securement structure asdefined in claim 9, the combination being further characterized by saidend segments of the base having generally flat bottom surfaces forengagement with the lower pair of flange elements and curved surfacesadjoining said flat bottom surfaces at the extremities thereof towardwhich the base turns as the pedestal moves from the upright to thecollapsed position.
 11. In a container support and securement structureas defined in claim 9, the combination being further characterized by anopening in said side retaining wall adjacent the container seat, a latchelement hingedly mounted on said pedestal and having a latch portionmovable through said opening to and from a position spaced from saidseat for retaining engagement with a seated container, said latchelement also having a lever portion extending along and in spacedrelationship to said brace structure, means on the brace structureproviding a spring retaining seat, and a latch biasing compressionspring mounted between said seat and said lever portion of the latchelement to bias the latch portion thereof to the container retainingposition.
 12. In a container support and securement structure for thetransportation of lading containers in a position spaced above the deckof a vehicle, a container corner suppOrt pedestal comprising, incombination, a generally planar back support plate element, a containerseat secured to and extending forwardly in a horizontal disposition fromthe vertical midregion of the back support plate element, a containerside retaining wall extending upwardly from one side of the containerseat and forwardly from the back support plate element and secured toboth the container seat and back support plate element, brace structureextending forwardly from the lateral midregion of the backplate elementacross the lateral midregion of a lower surface of the container seatand secured to both the back support plate element and the containerseat, a base longer laterally than longitudinally of the pedestal andextending laterally of only the longitudinal midregion of the bottom ofthe brace structure at a position spaced forwardly of the backplateelement, said base being secured to the brace structure and extendingoutwardly therefrom in symmetrical relationship on opposite sides of thebrace structure, sad base also having opposite end surfaces spacedrearwardly from the end of the brace structure which is remote from theback support plate, which end surfaces face forwardly and downwardly inangular relationship to one another and are adjoined by a rounded cornersurface, a downwardly extending flanged tongue at the lower end of saidback support plate element, and a support engaging crossmember securedto and projecting laterally from opposite sides of the bottom of theforward end of the brace structure at a position spaced forwardly of thebase and having a top surface which is above the end surfaces of thebase which face downwardly.
 13. In a container support and securementstructure as defined in claim 12, the combination being furthercharacterized by said forwardly and downwardly facing end surfaces atopposite ends of the base being respectively tapered rearwardly andupwardly toward their outer ends.
 14. In a container support andsecurement structure as defined in claim 12, said flanged tongue beingnarrower laterally of the pedestal than said support engagingcrossmember, and both said flanged tongue and said support engagingcrossmember being narrower than said base in a direction lateral to thepedestal.
 15. In a container support and securement structure as definedin claim 12, said container side retaining wall having an openingtherein, a container retaining latch element hingedly secured forswinging movement relative to the exterior of the container seat andhaving a projecting portion at one end movable through said openingbetween container retaining and released positions, said latch elementhaving a lever portion extending along one side of said brace structurein spaced relationship thereto, said brace structure having a springseat thereon in alignment with said lever portion, and a compressionspring engaged between said spring seat and said lever portion forurging latch element toward the container retaining position.